Sermons on Harsh:

Playing God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 24, 2025

The sermon urges us to surrender judgment, embrace mercy, and let God transform our critical spirit into kindness and grace toward others.

Some of us carried a quiet critic into church today. He rode in the car with us, sat beside us during worship, and has opinions about everything from traffic to the tempo of the first song. He’s subtle—civil even—but he speaks in sighs, shrugs, and silent scores. We know his voice: the whisper that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-2

Topics: Criticism, Judgment

The Troublemakers

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 19, 2003

There are some troublemakers in our own lives that hinder us in the Christian life.

THE TROUBLEMAKERS INTRO.- ILL,- A preacher named Mitchell said that someone in his congregation pointed out several faults in him and his preaching. Instead of retaliating, or trying to defend himself, he looked at the woman and said, "If what you say is true, would you mind praying for ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Suffer The Little Children

Contributed by Tim Richards on Sep 23, 2004

A sermon on child abuse

Introduction: 1. Tara Cook spent the first part of her life being shifted from one house to another. When she was ten Tara went to live with her dad & his girl friend Rose. All went well for a short time and then Rose began to abuse her. After she had lived there for about 15 months Rose informed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom From Words That Kill, Prt 2 Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Feb 4, 2010

Part 4 in series, “Freedom From…” this message examines six things that can be done to deal with our tendency to use words in destructive ways.

Freedom From Words That Kill, prt. 2 Freedom From... Wildwind Community Church David Flowers September 20, 2009 Last week we talked about words that kill. I divided words that kill up into two categories -- angry words, and empty words. Do you remember what I told you these two categories of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Denomination: Free Methodist

Hijacking Grace Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Jan 31, 2010

The Company We Keep, part 9. When we decide to get serious about spiritual practices in our lives, we find that grace gets hijacked and replaced with guilt and oppression. How does this happen, and what are we to do?

Hijacking Grace The Company We Keep, prt. 9 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers June 27, 2009 We have come a long way in our learning about the Jesus life – how to enter into and live in the life of peace and rest Jesus said is available to us. Today I want to talk to you about some ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:29-30

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Life To Commend Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Aug 7, 2012

Always take time to consider how your behavior is honoring or dishonoring God before the world. That’s what matters. You are not your own persons. You are servants of God. That leads us into our next passage, verses 18-25, in which Peter directly addresse

Introduction We continue to step through our minefield of authority. Peter has moved from his encouragement section of his epistle to practical instruction and exhortation. His topic is how Christians are to live in the world, and he approaches the subject in terms of how they are to regard the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Abigail Calms The Wrath Of David Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 19, 2023

The prophet of God has now died. And David moves his men into the desert.

In chapter 25 of 1st Samuel we see several turning points in the life of David. Many years ago David had been a young shepherd boy when he met a prophet of Israel named Samuel. But the story is about to shift radically. It says in 1st Samuel 25:1: “Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:1-2

Denomination: Salvation Army

Judge Not

Contributed by Thomas Baird on Jun 8, 2004

We are not to Judge.. or are we?

Judge Not I am again going to read this evening’s main passage of scripture from the King James Version of the Bible… The reason is just like last week, it is a widely known passage of scripture and everyone seems to know the wording as it is written ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Our Sufficiency In Christ (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jun 14, 2004

The 9th message of 13 in an expository series on the book of Colossians.

The Sufficiency of Christ – Part 3 Colossians 2:16-23 16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-23

Denomination: Baptist

The - First Light - Factor Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 5, 2008

To some people, the world is a dark and difficult experience. But in the midst of their frustration, there is the hint of eternity that makes them hope that there is something more than they are presently experiencing.

(Twenty years ago I heard a preacher give a sermon with the same kinds of opening and closing illustrations. It left such an impression on me that I have waited all this time to preach this specific sermon.) OPEN: Nine men lay trapped more than 200 feet beneath the ground in a coal mine in ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Here Comes The Judge

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 16, 2008

Everyone and every thing will be judged on the judgment day but there are some specific matters that the Lord may judge more critically. Here they are: 1- God will judge ungodly acts 2- God will judge ungodly words

INTRO.- ILL.- A young Bible college student was witnessing in a suburb of Atlanta. As he approached one house, there was an elderly gentleman sitting on the porch. He said, “Are you a Christian?” The old man said, “No, I’m a Smith. The Christians live two doors down.” “You don’t understand. ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Anticipation And Preparation

Contributed by Jim Drake on Apr 2, 2007

Today, we can base our present hope of salvation on the fact that we need a Savior, God provides testimony for the Savior we need, and He has provided Christ as our Savior.

1. The first principle concerning our present hope of salvation is the problem of man (2:17) 2. The second principle concerning our present hope of salvation is the preparation by the messenger (3:1a) 3. The third principle concerning our present hope of salvation is the promise of the Master ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Desperate Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jul 2, 2020

Deliverance. We talk about it. We ask for it. We demand it. We know we need it. However, deliverance is often accompanied by dilemmas! Are we willing to hold on for freedom?

Deliverance Dilemmas Pt. 1 - Desperate I. Introduction The load has become too heavy! When a world has become siloed by sickness! The load has become too heavy! When a nation whose pledge boldly states that we believe in liberty and justice for all instead sees vigilantes (some wearing a uniform ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:12-14, Exodus 2:23-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Other Sheep

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 22, 2021

Jesus our Good Shepherd reminds us that we have other sheep that are not yet part of the fold. It has been said that these Greeks were some of those “other sheep.”

THE OTHER SHEEP Text: John 12:20 - 33 “Someone (Ernest A. Fitzgerald) tells the story about Lou Gehrig who one day during his famed baseball career came to bat. He swung at two balls and missed. The third ball passed and the umpire called him out. Gehrig threw down the bat in ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: United Methodist

When You’re With Jesus, Expect Surprises

Contributed by Craig Condon on Sep 5, 2015

Have you ever noticed that Jesus often does things that we don’t expect him to do? Take the stories we read in Mark 7:24-37, for example. He does two things that we don’t expect him to do.

Have you ever noticed that Jesus often does things that we don’t expect him to do? Take the stories we read in Mark 7:24-37, for example. He does two things that we don’t expect him to do. First, Jesus gave an uncharacteristically rude and abrupt reply to the woman’s request for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Anglican